Fuse clip



Nov. 10, 1953 G. L. WEBB ETAL 1 2,659,063

FUSE CLIP Filed Oct. 11, 1951 INVENTORS.

' I G60f L Webb, BY E 4156726 Z a/'0 Patented Nov. 10, 1953 FUSE CLIPGeorge L. Webb, Logansport, Ind., and Eugene Loro,

Lancaster, Ohio, assignors to Essex Wire Corporation, Logansport, Ind.,a corporation of Michigan Application October 11, 1951, Serial No.250,831

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in clips adapted for thereception and retention of fuses of the cylindrical type.

Fuse clips of the general type referred to are well known and comprise apair of resilient fingers adapted to grasp the sides of the cylindricalconnector cap at one end of a fuse to effect electrical connectionbetween one terminal of the fuse and one terminal of a power line. Thefingers are normally divergently inclined at their outer ends to providecam surfaces adapted to engage the connector cap to cam the fingers awayfrom each other and accommodate entry of the cap into curved portions ofthe fingers defining therebetween a substantially cylindrical recess forthe reception and retention of the cap. The curved portions of thefingers are normally spaced from the base portion of the clip and ifcare is not exercised, the fuse can be moved beyond the cylindricalrecess defined by the fingers. Due to the fact that the fingers arerelatively strong to provide firm retention of the fuse, the relaxationoccurring as the fuse passes into the cylindrical recess is so suddenthat application of pressure cannot be relieved in suflicient time toprevent forcing the cap beyond the cylindrical recess. As the cap ismoved beyond the recess, the fingers are again flexed and frequently tosuch degree as to bend the fingers or destroy the resiliency thereof sothat the fingers no longer grasp and provide pressure contact with thefuse cap.

To avoid the stated objectionable feature, several proposals have beenmade for the provision of stops to limit entry of the clip to thecylindrical recess. Many of the proposals contemplate the provision of aseparate member or members to effect the stopping action, while othermore practical proposals suggest the formation of stop membersintegrally with the fingers.

An object of the present invention is to provide an economical fuse cliphaving improved stop members formed integrally with the resilientfingers of the clip to prevent overstressing of the fingers due toover-insertion of the fuse.

Another factor contributing to bending or loss of resiliency of thefingers, is the lateral strain exerted thereon by improper insertion orremoval of fuses. Due to the strong resilient urge of the fingers,persons not fully acquainted with fuses and fuse clips frequentlyattempt to insert or remove fuses by wiggling same to force theresilient fingers of the clip apart. Such wiggling exerts lateral strainon the fingers with resultant bending and loss of resiliency.Accordingly, it is desirable to limit the amount of lateral bending orstressing to which the fingers may be subjected. Several proposals,usually involving the use of separate stop members, have been made toprovide limit stops forthe purpose stated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an economical fuse cliphaving improved stop members, formed integrally with the clip, to limitlateral distortion of the fingers of the clip.

A further object of the invention is to provide an economical, compactfuse clip formed of a unitary piece of sheet metal and having stop meansfor limiting insertion of fuses into the clip and stop means forlimiting lateral distortion of the fingers of the clip.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentof the invention, wherein reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a unitary metal blank from which the fuseclip of the present invention is formed;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the fuse clip formed from the blank ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the formed fuse clip; and

Figure 4 is a, plan view of the formed clip.

Referring now to the drawings, the blank is stamped from sheet metal ofa high tensile strength having relatively high electrical conductivity.Preferably, the blank is formed from phosphorous bronze, which may have,for example, an electrical conductivity of approximately 25% and atensile strength of approximately 80,000 pounds per square inch. Theblank comprises a rectangular body portion 10, an extension [2 extendinglaterally from the body it, a pair of wings extending laterally from theextension !2 intermediate the length of the extension and a tab l6extending outwardly from each of the wings [4. As will be noted, thetabs l0 extend outwardly to substantially the same distance as does thelateral extension l2, so that the tabs and the outer end of theextension I2 define therebetween a slotted portion, the tabs i6 and theextension I2 each constituting an abutment.

The rectangular body portion It comprises a central portion l8, definedby the dotted lines in Figure 1, which will ultimately constitute thebase portion of the fuse clip. An aperture or hole 20 is provided in thecentral portion [8 to facilitate mounting of the clip on a junctionblock or the like. Extending outwardly from the central portion 18 are apair of side portions 22 each adapted to constitute ultimately one ofthe resilient fingers of the fuse clip. A U-shaped cut 24 is provided ineach of the side portions 22 to define a portion of the metal blankadapted to be bent to form stops for limiting insertion of fuses betweenthe fingers defined by the side portions 22. A slot or recess 25 is cutin the edge of each portion 22 from which the lateral extension 12projects.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the fuse clip of the present invention isformed by bending the side portions 22 of the body portion I upwardly oroutwardly approximately on the dotted lines shown in Figure 1, withrespect to the central portion I8 to define upwardly extendingoppositely disposed resilient fingers. Each finger is preferably formedto provide a central portion adapted for the reception of a fuse anddivergent outer end portions 28 constituting cam surfaces for spreadingthe fingers apart upon insertion of a fuse in a direction normal to thebase portion IS. The inner ends of the divergent portions 28 of thefingers 22 define a neck portion constituting one side of asubstantially cylindrical recess defined by the fingers 22. The lowerend of the substantially cylindrical recess is defined by stop members30 which constitute portions of the fingers 22 bent inwardly from thematerial thereof along the U-shaped cuts 24 provided in each of thefingers. The stops 3!) are adapted to limit insertion of fuses into thefuse clip to prevent excessive deflection of the resilient fingers 22and to insure proper positioning of a fuse in the clip.

The lateral extension 12 is bent upwardly from the base portion 18 inthe same direction as the fingers 22 and is disposed transversely of thefingers 22 so that the wing portions l4 thereof extend laterally beyondthe fingers 22. After bending, the wings M are so disposed with respectto the fingers 22 that the portions of the wings between the extensionl2 and the tab l8 are received within the slots 26 provided in each ofthe fingers 22. The slots 26 are of such extent that they terminateshort of the upper end of the lateral extension I2 so that a portion ofeach finger is received within the slot defined between the lateralextension I! and each tab 16. Accordingly, portions of each wing M arereceived within the plane of the fingers 22, and the tabs 16 andextension l2 constitute abutments adapted to be engaged by the portionof each of the fingers 22 extending into the respective slots in theextension to limit lateral deflection in both directions of the fingers22. As will be noted, particularly from Figures 3 and 4, the lateralextension l2 and wings M are disposed within the edge plane of thefingers 22.

Due to its disposition with respect to the fingers 22, the lateralextension [2 provides an end abutment adapted to prevent axial shiftingin one direction between the fuse and the fuse clip. In use, two clipswould be mounted, by means of the aperture 20, on a junction block, inspaced relation, with the open end of each clip facing the open end ofthe other clip. The spacing between the clips, or the spacing betweenthe lateral extension l2 of the clips, is such as to equal the length ofthe cylindrical fuse to be received by the clips. The fuse is insertedinto the clips by positioning the end caps of the fuse within thedivergent cam surfaces 28 of each clip and exerting a force on the fusenormal to the base portion [8 of each clip to force the fuse into eachclip by spreading the fingers 22 apart until the fuse passes over theneck portion of the fingers and is moved downwardly into engagement withthe insertion stops 30. The stops 30 prevent overinsertion of the fuseand serve to insure proper retention of the fuse by the clip and toprevent over-stressing of the resilient fingers of the clip. Theabutment portions defined by the lateral extension i2 and the tabs l6limit lateral defiection of the fingers 22 so that over-size fusescannot be inserted into the clip, and fuses properly received, oradapted to be received, within the clip cannot be wiggled within theclip to such extent as to over-stress or bend the resilient fingers 22.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present inventionprovides a fuse clip formed from a unitary metal blank and havingintegral stop means for limiting and definitely defining the properdegree of insertion of fuses into the clip and other integral stop meansfor preventing over-stressing or distortion of the resilient fingers ofthe clip. Accordingly, the clip is insured of long and efficient use,since the resilient fingers thereof will retain the resilient strengthnecessary to effect a perfect electrical connection between a fuseconnector cap and a power line terminal and so that the fingers willfirmly retain the fuse in proper position.

The fuse clip of the present invention is readily formed in a convenientand economical manner in two steps, namely, a first stamping and formingoperation wherein the blank shown in Figure 1 is stamped from sheetmetal, the insertion stops 3% are bent upwardly from the plane of thebody portion 10 and the fingers 22 are each provided with theconfiguration clearly shown in Figure 2, and a second forming operationwherein the resilient fingers 22 are bent upwardly from the base ortionN3 of the body it] and the lateral extension 12 is bent upwardly fromthe base portion 8 to be positioned within the slots 25 in the fingers22. The steps of forming the fuse clip, of the present invention areparticularly adapted to modern mass production methods.

While we have described what we regard to be a preferred embodiment ofour invention, it will be apparent that various changes, rearrangementsand modifications may be made therein without departing from the scopeof the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A fuse clip comprising a base portion, a pair of independent opposedfingers extending from said base portion, and an independent extensionprojecting from said base portion in the same direction as said fingers,said extension having abutment portions adapted to be engaged by sustantially the midpoint of each of said fingers to limit lateraldeflection of said fingers.

2. A fuse clip comprising a base portion, a pair of opposed fingersextending from said base portion, said fingers being formed between theends thereof to define a generally cylindrical fuse receiving recess,and an extension projecting from said base portion in the same directionas said fingers, said extension being slotted adjacent the free endthereof transversely of said fingers for the reception of portions ofeach of said fingers adjacent said recess whereby said extensionconstitutes a stop limiting lateral defiection of said fingers.

3. A fuse clip comprising a unitary metallic blank formed to provide abase portion, a pair of independent opposed fingers extending from saidbase portion, and an independent extension projecting from said baseportion in the same direction as said fingers and being disposedtransversely of said fingers, each of said fingers being slottedintermediate the ends thereof for the reception of a portion of saidextension and said extension being slotted for the reception of aportion of each of said fingers adjacent the midpoint of each of saidfingers, whereby said extension constitutes a stop limiting lateraldeflection of said fingers.

4. A fuse clip according to claim 3, in which said extension is disposedat one end of said base portion and said fingers and said extension areslotted whereby said extension lies in the edge plane of said fingers.

5. A. fuse clip comprising a. base portion, a pair of independentopposed fingers extending from said base portion, a stop memberextending from each of said fingers intermediate their lengths, and anindependent extension projecting from said base portion in the samedirection as said fingers, said extension having abutment portionsadjacent the free end thereof adapted to be engaged by an intermediateportion of each of said fingers to limit lateral deflection of saidfingers.

6. A fuse clip comprising a unitary metallic blank formed to provide abase portion, a pair of independent opposed fingers extending from saidbase portions, a stop extending inwardly from each of said fingers, saidfingers and said stops defining a recess adapted for the reception of afuse and limiting insertion of a fuse into the clip, and an independentextension extending from said base portion in the same direction as saidfingers and being disposed transversely of said fingers, said fingersand said extension having cooperating slotted portions adjacent saidrecess intermating with one another, whereby said extension constitutesa stop limiting lateral defiection of said fingers.

7. A fuse clip comprising a unitary metallic blank formed to present abase portion, a pair of fingers extending upwardly from said baseportion, said fingers being oppositely formed to provide divergentinclined surfaces at their upper ends and a neck spaced from their upperends, a fuse insertion stop stamped from the material of each of saidfingers and directed inwardly to overlie said base portion and be spacedfrom said neck, an extension projecting upwardly from said base portiontransversely of said fingers at one side thereof, a wing extendinglaterally from each side of said extension, and a tab extending upwardlyfrom each of said wings, said tabs being each spaced from said extensionto define a slot therebetween, said fingers being each slotted at theedge thereof adjacent said extension for the reception of the portion ofthe respective wing between said extension and said tab, a portion ofeach of said fingers adjacent the upper edge of the slot therein beingreceived within the slot between the respective tab and said extensionwhereby said tabs and said extension define stops for limiting lateraldeflection of said fingers and said extension when said wings are movedinto the edge plane of said fingers.

GEORGE L. WEBB. EUGENE LORO.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,025,245 Cole May 7, 1912 1,955,251 Ohlson Apr. 17, 1934FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 622,468 Great Britain May 3, 1949

